Restoring the Tule Creek Trail: Volunteers Lead the Way in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest

From April 17–20, 2025 Bigfoot Trail Alliance volunteers came together for a powerful spring stewardship effort on the Tule Creek Trail in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Led by trail crew leader Jacob Shinners, six volunteers spent four days reclaiming a rugged stretch of trail from encroaching vegetation and storm damage—working on steep slopes, rocky tread, and decades of deferred maintenance. Their efforts are another meaningful step in reconnecting hikers with this remote and spectacular segment of the Bigfoot Trail.

Trail Work Accomplishments

Over the course of the hitch, volunteers achieved the following:

• 174 hours of service contributed by 6 volunteers
• 9 fallen logs removed
• 1.5 miles of trail cleared of dense brush
• Retread completed on steep, rocky sections to improve safety and flow

This remote stretch of trail demands resilience and teamwork. Volunteers camped out for multiple nights and faced challenging terrain as they restored segments that had nearly disappeared under rockfall and vegetation. Their collective labor and dedication improved access for hikers and set the stage for future restoration efforts deeper into the Wilderness.

Why This Work Matters

The Tule Creek Trail is an important connector on the Bigfoot Trail between the Trinity River and the town of Hayfork, providing access to exceptional biodiversity, old-growth forest, and cold mountain streams. Without volunteer crews like this one, sections of the trail risk becoming impassable. Each log removed and each foot of trail reclaimed represents a recommitment to public access, wilderness values, and the vision of a long-distance trail that connects people to the wild heart of the Klamath Mountains.

Leadership in Action

Trip leader Jacob Shinners guided the crew with skill and dedication, ensuring a safe and productive work environment while teaching technical trail maintenance techniques. His leadership exemplifies the next generation of trail stewards rising through the ranks of the Bigfoot Trail Alliance.